SALEMBURG — Educators at Salemburg Elementary School are continuing to improve technology, thanks to a generous donation.

The Donnie M. Royal Foundation donated $9,500 to purchase 25 HP Stream Laptops for fifth-graders at the school to help with 21st century learning skills. During a visit to the school, Charles Royal presented a check on behalf of the organization. The foundation was established in memory of Royal’s great-uncle, a doctor who practiced more than 60 years and his wife, Dorothy Turlington Royal.

“We continue to be excited to support the school and their needs,” Royal said. “We rejoice in how they have continued to grow and develop in their technology. We’re glad to be a part of that.”

Royal added that his uncle would be proud about the foundation’s goal to invest in local children. The computer devices will also come with a charging cart and software pack. Some of instructional uses will include research projects, computer based instruction accelerated reading and math.

In previous years, the foundation assisted other grade levels at Salemburg Elementary, which has an enrollment of more than 500 students. In 2017, the foundation donated more than $12,000 for the “iLearn through iPads” initiative.

Principal Gerald Johnson showed gratitude for the donation and applauded with the work of the Royal Foundation.

“We’re so appreciative of having this relationship with the Royal Foundation for the last four years to increase technology in our schools,” Johnson said.

While requesting the grant, Johnson expressed how technology continues to change education in the classroom.

“The days of students silently working independently from textbooks at desk neatly arranged into perfect rows no longer exist,” Johnson said. “In today’s classroom, you are more likely to see students standing or sitting together around tables or huddling on the rug, gesturing and talking excitedly, drawing diagrams on tablets, sketching ideas on white boards, or gathered around computers searching for information.”

Diana Herwy,chair of the School Improvement Team, was instrumental in developing the grant titled “Streaming for Success.” During the school year, the improvement team collaborates on different projects and grants. One of the recent projects was a butterfly garden through the Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science, an educational program established by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Herwy appreciates the donation which will fill a void at school at the fifth-grade level.

“We just appreciate the grant and the technology to help the students,” Herwy said.

Charles Royal, center, presents a check to Salemburg Elementary School Principal Gerald Johnson, second from right. Also pictured is April Hayes, Jeannie Faulk and Diana Herwy.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_SES_1.jpgCharles Royal, center, presents a check to Salemburg Elementary School Principal Gerald Johnson, second from right. Also pictured is April Hayes, Jeannie Faulk and Diana Herwy.

By Chase Jordan

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